Changing Seasons... Spring! We here in the Northern Hemisphere are feeling the change of the season in our bones and in our spirits. Even in the chilly places where the weather just doesn't seem to want to cooperate as yet, the stubborn little crocuses are pushing their purple and yellow heads up in defiance. "It's time," they seem to say, "It's time for Spring to begin. Ready or not, here we come!"

Dio is ready. This week she ruminates on her first Spring at her new home in North Carolina...

During The Moon of Spraying Apples, "I went outside tonight. After a pleasantly tiring day of planting raspberries and Shasta daisies, I went out onto the front porch of my North Carolina mountain home, and looked to the southwest.. Behind the barely-leafed trees the crescent Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn all shone within a circle I could embrace..."

Are you looking for answers to your questions about the environment and ways to get involved in healing Mother Earth? This list of resources and reviews will give you a place to start. They were sent to us by a number of different people, and we at The Witches' Voice thank all of you for taking the time to write in and share your knowledge.

The strongest magick is that which is followed by action in the world. Whether you commit to increasing your personal recycling efforts, send a check to an environmental organization, or become an environmental activist in your community, we urge you to ground the magick you do to heal the Earth this Earth Day by following it up with action. Then let us know about your efforts so we can keep the WitchVox community informed!

Witchvox Is Always Changing, Too

And last week, we had a great deal of fun talking about these changes with Aleksei-Ra of Moonfire Coven. Check out the TWV interview for the Moonfire Coven Weekly Newsletter.

Wren's Nest Goes 4.0: This week we launch the latest incarnation of Wren's Nest News. The new version offers faster searching (relative to internet traffic), reformated detail on the news clips and a way for us to battle those pesky Micro$oft word "gremlins" as Wren is posting the news. Give Wren's Nest 4.0 a ride and tell us what you think.

Some People Really Want A Change

The protests against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund taking place this weekend in Washington, D.C. were telecast live on C-Span today. Environmental, religious, political, labor and student groups rallied to speak out against systems that continue to embrace the philosophy of 'profit over people.' (If you aren't sure what this is all about, you can check out some of the background information in The Washington Post.)

Even if you are not spiritually/politically in tune with the ideology of these protests, there is a historical precedence that pagans may want to file in the back of their consciousness: whenever the conquistador, the explorer or the entrepreneurial company went into new lands, the evangelical religious messengers of the dominant religion always followed closely upon their heels. Whether it was in North or South America, the Hawaiian or Pacific Islands, Australia or New Zealand, the indigenous religions were swept aside and virtually eliminated as business ventures and religious fervor claimed the land and the native people as their rightful prize.

And Some People Really Don't!

History is still being made today- and much in the same old way - as the extreme religious factions and their political allies turn their sights on Third World countries and support the companies and industries that can help pave their own evangelical road in. In fact, for the last two decades the language of business, politics and religion has increasingly become intertwined. While Jesus is noted as the giver of some excellent advice in the rendering "unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto god what is god's", it is very difficult to tell these days whether it is indeed Caesar who is speaking for god or god who is speaking for Caesar.

Caesar/God spoke yet again last week in the House of Representatives in the form of a 'charitable choice' amendment to a housing bill. H.R. 1776 (irony noted) included an amendment offered by Rep. Mark Souder of Indiana which allows religious institutions to compete on the same level as other nonprofit organizations for federal funds.

Souder, seemingly looking past November's presidential election results, said, "It is unlikely under President Bush that the witches would get funding." (To read the entire text of the debate, you can go to Thomas Legislative Directory and search for H.B. 1776, Amendment 11. Included in the report is a list of very valuable religious freedom legal citations which should be in every pagan's reference file.)

Closing Thought... Perhaps we should send some stubborn little crocuses up to all of the folks on Capitol Hill. As a reminder to them from the pagans of this country of the power in nature and the inevitability of change, the enclosed note could simply read, "It's time. It's time for a change to begin. Ready or not, here we come!"

'Til next week.

Wren Walker & Fritz JungThe Witches' VoiceYear 2000 - April 17th.

Also New this week...

Florida Pagan Gathering (Reaching for the Spirit)This past month we got to spend some quality time with Roger Paraselsu Coleman of Iron Oak. Roger has graciously invited us to attend the Florida Pagan Gathering (May 4th-7th) in St. Petersburg early next month. Due to our schedule, we can only make it for a single day, but are thrilled to connect with the wonderful folks that have been doing this gathering for so many years. Other Guest Speakers include: Donald Michael Kraig, Maya Heath and Pete Pathfinder Davis. Our favorite drummers, Greywolf and Briga, will be there as well (Yea!!). We will be doing a workshop on Saturday morning (10:00) and then spending the rest of day socializing and having fun. Thank YOU Roger for this chance to connect with other Florida Pagans.

April Young Pagan Essays... Now Up!

Shabby Chic, Pagan Style: We asked how a Pagan on a limited budget could dress like a God or Goddess for a fraction of the going price of ambrosia. We haven't priced ambrosia lately, but three people wrote us with some great ideas we're sure will bring you in well under budget with some wonderful magickal tools and clothing. Check out the Shabby Chic essays... Page ONE - TWO - THREE

Who Loves Ya, Baby?: We wondered how much trouble Pagan teens have finding romance with someone who isn't Pagan. Our single correspondent on this topic has had her share of difficulties, including a boyfriend who, while somewhat apologetic about it, feels it is a sin not to try to convert her! Check out Who Loves Ya, Baby?:

April "Adult" Pagan Essays... Now Up!

Shabby Chic, Pagan Style: This was a popular topic, and we offer 10 essays written by some very creative people. There's even one from a Pagan living in Japan! You'll find plenty of great ideas here, even if you've got more money than you know what to do with...(yeah, right! ;-) Check out the Shabby Chic essays... Page ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR - FIVE - SIX - SEVEN - EIGHT - NINE - TEN

Interfaith Adventures: This topic inspired some very thoughtful and interesting essays, including one from a Christian teenager who is studying our religions and one from a third-degree Witch who has spent years going to various religious services in an attempt to understand her own religion better.! Check out Interfaith Adventures essays... Page ONE - TWO - THREE - FOUR - FIVE - SIX

WitchVox Year 2000 Essay Topics for May

The Witches' Voice is actively soliciting editorials and essays on a variety of topics on interest to both Pagan and mainstream audiences. Diotima has put together the essay/article topics for the first 6 months of year 2000. For the complete listing and our editorial guidelines, follow the links at the bottom of this box.

"Young Pagans Section:

May 2000:

Publication Date: May 7thSubmission Deadline:April 30th

Topic: School ViolenceYou've heard about it. Maybe your school is "profiling", enforcing "zero tolerance" policies and increasing security measures. Is this a solution or an over-reaction to the problem? What about when Pagan religious symbols are labeled as 'gang' flags? Have you been impacted by either school violence or the measures that have come from trying to deal with it? What do you think should be done?Topic: Children and Over-PopulationThe resources of the Earth are finite, and the Earth's population has grown to the point where we are severely straining those resources. Since Pagans are committed to living in harmony with Nature, what actions do you think we need to take, both on a personal and global level, to deal with this?

"Adults" Section:

May 2000:

Publication Date: May 14thSubmission Deadline:May 7th

Topic: School ViolenceYou've heard about it. You've probably also heard that schools are increasingly profiling children, enforcing 'zero tolerance' policies and increasing security measures. Is this a solution or an over-reaction to the problem? What about when Pagan religious symbols are labeled as 'gang' flags? Have you or your children been impacted by either school violence or the measures that have come from trying to deal with it?Topic: Children and Over-PopulationThe resources of the Earth are finite, and the Earth's population has grown to the point where we are severely straining those resources. Since Pagans are committed to living in harmony with Nature, what actions do you think we need to take, both on a personal and global level, to deal with this?

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